Sikorsky S-70

Infobox Aircraft
name= S-70 series


caption= An Australian Army S-70A-9 Black Hawk
type=Medium-lift transport/utility helicopter
manufacturer=Sikorsky
designer=
first flight=1974
introduced=1979
retired=
status=Active service
primary user= United States Army
more users=United States Navy
United States Coast Guard
United States Air Force
produced=1970s-present
number built=
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=UH-60 Black Hawk
SH-60 Seahawk
HH-60 Pave Hawk
HH-60 Jayhawk

The Sikorsky S-70 is a medium-lift military helicopter family manufactured by Sikorsky. It was developed for the U.S. Army in the 1970s, winning a competition to be designated the UH-60 Blackhawk and spawning a large family in U.S. military service. Civilian versions, and some military versions are produced under various S-70 model designation.

Development

The S-70 family was developed to meet a US Army requirement to replace the venerable UH-1 Iroquois family of utility medium-lift helicopters in 1972. Three prototypes were constructed, the first (YUH-60A) flying in October 1974, and evaluated against the Boeing-Vertol YUH-61A. The YUH-60A was selected for production, and entered service as the UH-60A Black Hawk with the US Army in 1979. In the late 1980s the model was upgraded to the UH-60L, which featured more power and lift with the upgrade to the -701C model of the GE engines.

Newer models are being engineered, which will extend the service life of both UH-60As and UH-60Ls well into the 2020s. They feature still more power and lift and state of the art electronic instrumentation, flight controls and aircraft navigation control.

The S-70 can perform a wide array of missions, including air cavalry, electronic warfare, and aeromedical evacuation: several versions are even used to transport the President of the United States, which while carrying the President is known as Marine One. In air assault operations it can move a squad of 11 combat troops and equipment or carry the 105 mm M102 howitzer, thirty rounds of ammunition, and a six-man crew. Alternatively, it can carry 2,600 lb (1,170 kg) of cargo or sling load 9,000 lb (4,050 kg) of cargo. The S-70 is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics, such as the Global Positioning System.

The United States Navy received the first navalised SH-60B Seahawk in 1983, and the SH-60F Ocean Hawk in 1988.

The HH-60G Pave Hawk is a highly modified version of the S-70 primarily designed to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel during war and equipped with a rescue hoist with a 250 ft (75 m) cable that has a 600 lb (270 kg) lift capability, and a retractable in-flight refueling probe. The United States Air Force received the MH-60G Pave Hawk in 1982.

The United States Coast Guard received the HH-60J Jayhawk in 1992. It utilizes the equipment of the HH-60G Pave Hawk on the navalized SH-60 platform.

The S-70A Firehawk is a version of the S-70 designed for firefighting, rescue, medical evacuation, and external lift of bulky cargo and equipment. The Oregon National Guard was the first military organization in the world to add the Firehawk to its inventory; the Los Angeles County Fire Department was the first municipal organization. Brainerd Helicopters of Leesburg, Florida operates the S-70C Firehawk on wildfires under the "FirehawK" brand.

The Army also flies medical evacuation models which are configured as rotary winged medical suites. They also used the S-70 for special operations by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers") known as the MH-60K at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The Maple Hawk was a variant offered by Sikorsky to the Canadian Forces during the tender to replace the military's search and rescue helicopters.

The unit cost varies with the version. For example, the unit cost of the Army's UH-60L Black Hawk is $5.9 million while the unit cost of the Air Force MH-60G Pave Hawk is $10.2 million.

Variants

H-60

* UH-60 Black Hawk: The basic military utility helicopter used by the US Army.

* SH-60 Seahawk: US Navy variant for search and rescue, maritime patrol, ASW, all-weather and day/night.

* HH-60 Pave Hawk: USAF heli-rescue variant for search and rescue, MEDEVAC, on day and night operations.

* MH-60 Knight Hawk: US Navy medium-heavy lift helicopter.
** CH-60E: Proposed troop transport variant for the US Marine Corps.
** CH-60S Knight Hawk: now designated MH-60S

* HH-60 Jayhawk: United States Coast Guard variant for maritime patrol, interdiction, and search and rescue

* VH-60 White Hawk: VIP transport
** VH-60A: Presidential transport helicopter, later designated VH-60N.
** VH-60N Presidential Hawk: The US Presidential transport helicopter, Marine One.

-70

The company name for the H-60/S-70 family is the S-70 Black Hawk
* S-70A Black Hawk: Military model for the export market as well as civilian version.
** S-70A Fire Hawk: Firefighting variant of the UH-60L. Tank system designed and built by Aero Union in Chico, California.
** S-70A-1 Desert Hawk: Export version for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.
** S-70A-L1 Desert Hawk: Aeromedical evacuation version for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.
** S-70-5 Black Hawk: Export version for the Philippine Air Force.
** S-70A-9 Black Hawk: Export version for the Australian army.
** S-70-11 Black Hawk: Export version for the Royal Jordanian Air Force.
** S-70-12 Black Hawk: Search and rescue model for the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and Maritime Self Defense Force. Also known as the UH-60J.
** S-70-14 Black Hawk: Export version for Brunei.
** S-70-16 Black Hawk: Engine test bed for the Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM 332.
** S-70-17 Black Hawk: Export version for Turkey.
** Sikorsky/Westland S-70-19 Black Hawk: This version is built under license in the United Kingdom by Westland. Also known as the WS-70.
** S-70-21 Black Hawk: Export version for Egypt.
** S-70-24 Black Hawk: Export version for Mexico.
** S-70-26 Black Hawk: Export version for Morocco.
** S-70-27 Black Hawk: Export version for Hong Kong.
** S-70A-42 Black Hawk: Export version for Austria.

* S-70B Seahawk: Maritime military model for the export market.
** S-70B-1 Seahawk: Anti-submarine version for the Spanish Navy. The Seahawk is configured with the LAMPS(Light Airbone Multipurpose System)
** S-70B-2 Seahawk: Anti-submarine version for the Royal Australian Navy, similar to the SH-60B Seahawk in US Navy operation.
** S-70B-3 Seahawk: Anti-submarine version for the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force. Also known as the SH-60J, the JMSDF ordered a total of 101 units, with deliveries starting in 1991.
** S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk: the Greek military variant which is a blend of the SH-60B and F models.
** S-70B-7 Seahawk: Export version for the Royal Thai Navy.
** S-70A (N) Naval Hawk: Maritime variant that blends the S-70A Black Hawk and S-70B Seahawk designs.

* S-70C Seahawk: Export version of the SH-60F Ocean Hawk, civilian version for firefighting.
** S-70C Firehawk: Commercial variant
** S-70C-2 Black Hawk: Search and rescue version for Brunei and Taiwan.
** S-70C(M)-1 Super Blue Hawk: Export model for the Taiwanese military.
** S-70C(M)-2 Super Blue Hawk: Export model for the Taiwanese military.

*S-70i Black Hawk: International military version

Derivatives

* Sikorsky S-92 - Civilian medium-lift derivative of the Black Hawk.
** H-92 Superhawk - Military version of the S-92.
** CH-148 Cyclone - Version of the H-92 for the Canadian Forces.

Operators

Military Operators

;ARG;AUS;AUT;BAH;BHR;BRA;BRN;PRC
* China purchased 24 S-70C in mid 1980's, of which an estimated 20 are still in operational status. Press photos from May 2008 showed PLA S-70C in earthquake relief operations. [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/14/asia/quake.php] ;CHI
*Chilean Air Force [ [http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1079032&WxsIERv=Fvxbefxl%20F-70N-39&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Puvyr%20-%20Nve%20Sbepr&QtODMg=Fnagvntb%20-%20Negheb%20Zrevab%20Oravgrm%20%28Chqnuhry%29%20%28FPY%20%2F%20FPRY%29&ERDLTkt=Puvyr&ktODMp=Znepu%2030%2C%202006&BP=1&WNEb25u=Onverf%20Nivngvba%20Cubgbtencul&xsIERvdWdsY=U-02&MgTUQtODMgKE=Nccebnpuvat%20gur%20uryvcnq%20sebz%20gur%20abegu%2C%20sylvat%20bire%20EJL17Y.%20Qrqvpngrq%20gb%20Whna%20N.%20Ebqevthrm%20VVV%2C%20n%20sryybj%20cvybg%20bs%20gur%20F-70.%20%28Bylzchf%20R-500%29&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=3462&NEb25uZWxs=2006-07-20%2015%3A41%3A22&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=70-2462&static=yes&width=1024&height=781&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20%3D%20%27Fvxbefxl%20F-70%20%28U-60%20Oynpx%20Unjx%2FFrnunjx%29%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=234&prev_id=1079205&next_id=1078946 Photo of the "Sikorsky S-70A-39" helicopter at the "Airliners.net" website] ] ;COL;EGY;GRE
*Hellenic Navy;flag|Hong Kong|colonial
*Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force - until 1991
*Hong Kong Government Flying Service - 1991-1997;flag|Hong Kong
*Hong Kong Government Flying Service 1997-2002;ISR
*Israeli Air Force;JPN
*Japan Air Self-Defense Force
*Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
*Japan Ground Self-Defense Force;JOR;MYS;MEX;MAR;PHI;ROC-TW;SAU;SIN
*Republic of Singapore Air Force;KOR;THA;TUR;ESP
*Spanish Navy;USA

Non-military operators

;HKG
*Government Flying Service(Retired)

;USA
*Los Angeles County Fire Department

ee also

aircontent
related=
* UH-60 Black Hawk
* HH-60 Pave Hawk
* SH-60 Seahawk
* HH-60 Jayhawk
* MH-60 "Knight Hawk"
* VH-60 Presidental Hawk
* Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk
similar aircraft=
lists=
* List of helicopters
* List of active military aircraft of the United States
see also=
* US Helicopter Armament Subsystems

References

* Leoni, Ray D. "Black Hawk, The Story of a World Class Helicopter", American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2007. ISBN 978-1-56347-918-2.

External links

* [http://www.sikorsky.com/sik/products/military/black_hawk/index.asp S-70 Black Hawk family page at Sikorsky.com]
* [http://www.sikorsky.com/details/0,9602,CLI1_DIV69_ETI264,00.html S-70 Seahawk family page at Sikorsky.com]
* [http://www.sikorsky.com/sik/products/military/black_hawk/s70i.asp S-70i - Sikorsky]